A bulked-up Josh Flook has adopted a super-sized policy ahead of Super Rugby Pacific with the four-cap Wallaby centre eager to make his mark in 2025.
Flook, 23, got his first taste of Test rugby across the July Series and Rugby Championship and returns to a Reds jersey hungrier than ever despite an extreme weight-gain diet.
Watch every game of Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
"I've definitely bulked up, been able to put on a couple of kilos during the off-season. You could tell if you see me at the beach," Flook joked this week.
"Being able to maintain and sustain that weight is something I've struggled with in the past and I had a bit of a niggle last year but with that improving, I've been able to get into the gym pretty hard."
"But eating's the big part for me. Unfortunately when I start running, (the weight) strips off me so I'm having six meals a day or so, making sure I'm having an extra one before dinner too.
"I used to have Weetbix with chocolate milk before bed to try and bulk up but I can't even look at them anymore."
After floating between 86kgs-88kg last season, Flook is now weighing at 91kg and raring to tackle Moana Pasifika at Suncorp Stadium this Friday.
"Especially with the bye last week, you've kind of got that itchy-feet feeling. There's a lot of hype in the group coming in yesterday and for today's session," Flook said.
"I've had a couple of good years on top of each other now so I think this is a year where I can put my foot down, take claim on this 13 jersey here at the Queensland Reds and really make it my own."
The stage is set for Flook to assert himself as one of Australia's premier outside centres in 2025 - especially with a Lions Tour fast approaching - but the Brothers junior admits there's plenty to work on if he's to compete against the world's best.
"It's an exciting year with the Lions coming across and the fan base and all the hype they bring but you've got to be successful at club level first to put your name in the ring for those further honours," Flook said.
"My main focus is to get through this round, play well and then keep improving each round.
"One thing I pride myself on is my work rate so just got to make sure I keep increasing that and getting not necessarily touches on the footy but putting myself in better areas.
"There's a bit on my defence and my kicking game too, I think I'm satisfied in those areas but obviously I need to step that up to world class in order to do well against the big dogs."
The Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 clash between Queensland Reds and Moana Pasifika kicks off at 6:35pm this Friday (February 21) in Brisbane.
